Brutal, brilliant, and one of the best Westerns ever made

A sprawling Western epic that follows the adventures of three gunfighters
looking for $200,000 in stolen gold, Sergio Leone's `The Good, the Bad, and
the Ugly' is a masterpiece, one that continues to get better and better with
each viewing. In a way, it's a morality play, weighing the consequences of
good and evil, but it does so in a realistic manner. Sometimes, crime does
pay, at least in the short term, and sometimes good does go unrewarded.
This film probably signaled the death knell of the traditional John Wayne
`White Hat/Black Hat' Western.

The three main characters make the film. Lee Van Cleef (`The Bad') is evil
personified. Totally ruthless, he'll do whatever it takes to get what he
wants. Clint Eastwood (`The Good') is the Man With No Name, not really
`good' in a traditional sense . . . but he has a certain sense of honor and
tries to do the right thing. (Watch the scene when he gives a dying
Confederate soldier a puff of his cigar - powerful, and it sums up
everything that the Man With No Name is all about, without saying a single
word.) Eli Wallach (`The Ugly') is Tuco, and he's easily the most complex -
if not the best - character in the film. All impulse and rage, Tuco spins
wildly throughout the movie, stealing, lying, pretending to be Clint
Eastwood's best friend in one scene, trying to kill him in another - Tuco
truly represents `the ugly' side of people.

The movie is long, but there's not a wasted scene in the film. Each one
slowly lets the film unfold with a certain style and grace, revealing more
about each character and what's going on. The pacing is incredible, as is
the direction - Sergio Leone manages to build a lot of uncomfortable tension
in the film, keeping the film from ever getting predictable. Any typical
Western cliché that you can possibly think of is either given a unique twist
or utterly destroyed by Leone's masterful storytelling. Of special mention
is Ennio Morricone's score, which is absolutely perfect. Two scenes - one
in a Union prison camp, one in the climatic gunfight in the cemetery at the
end of the film - are amazing on their own, but they become absolutely
astonishing with combined with Morricone's powerful score.

This movie is absolutely brilliant. If you haven't seen it yet, I strongly
urge to do so. Immediately. (And then, go watch `Unforgiven' . . . in a
way, I think that `Unforgiven' is the sequel to `The Good, the Bad, and the
Ugly - it's the story of what eventually happened to the Man With No Name.)
`The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly' is easily one of the best Westerns ever
made. A++

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454 out of 527 people found the following review useful:

Westerns don't get any better than this.

This is the third,and arguably the best, of the so-called "spaghetti
western" trilogy. It is ironic that, at the time the three Sergio Leone
westerns were released, they were largely panned by critics as being
poor and even laughable imitations of American-made westerns. The fact
that they were filmed in Italy and Spain resulted in them receiving
their amusing nickname which was intended to degrade them at the time.

Somehow, over the quarter century or so since their release, the
critics have tended to change their opinions, and now these movies are
generally regarded as classics. Perhaps this is because Clint Eastwood
was principally known only as the second banana, Rowdy Yates, in the
television series "Rawhide" when the films were produced but since then
has achieved superstardom. But I also think it goes beyond that. I
believe the critics decided to take another look at these films and
realized that they had been premature in writing them off. Actually, I
believe the three films were considerably better than most of what
Hollywood produced. In fact, I think that TGTBATU ranks among the best
westerns ever produced bringing to mind the magnificent films of John
Ford, the undisputed master of that genre, and his protege, the
incomparable John Wayne.

I have nothing but praise for this film. In fact, I rank it as one of
my favorite films of all time. I could write volumes of what is good
about this film. But since its qualities have been oft repeated in
other viewer reviews, I will focus on what others didn't like about it.
Most of the IMDb reviews had only one major complaint: the film is too
long. I disagree. In fact, in spite of its nearly three hour length, I
was disappointed that it ended. I was so absorbed in the film that I
was disheartened to have to return to reality. The combination of
story, cinematography, acting and musical score left nothing to be
desired other than more of the same! The sequences that seemed to drag
on in the opinion of other reviewers were necessary to fully create
moods and to drive home important points. For example, the opening
sequence might be regarded as needlessly long as Angel Eyes taunts a
hapless man over a leisurely meal. But to me, scenes like that are what
makes the movie great! The time allows the viewer to fully appreciate
the amazing replication of the primitive home and the pitiful life of
its dirt-poor inhabitants. I felt as though I was sitting there at the
table; I was half tempted to reach for a bowl and spoon to partake of
the meal. And all the while the suspense was building towards the
inevitable climax. You know it's coming but not when and the length of
the scene drives you crazy but makes it all the more satisfying when it
does happen.

Another example is when Tuco punishes Joe by forcing him to walk
through the desert. This is possibly the only time that one might
become bored with the film. But again, I think the time for the scene
was justified in that we are able to receive the full impact of that
experience and enjoy the haunting music at the same time. Joe's
subsequent predicament might not have had much credibility had this
sequence been abbreviated.

In my opinion, one of the essential elements of a great film is
creating moods that absorb our attention. This often takes time, lots
of time. For example, many of the scenes in the magnificent film "Dr.
Zhivago" were almost painfully long but they were necessary to create
those startling surrealistic moods, and the film would not have been
great without them. In many ways, TGTBATU has this same sort of
greatness. It is a sweeping epic with very compelling characters and
magnificent settings that draws the viewer in and doesn't release him
until the closing credits begin to roll. When it's over, you feel that
you've been on a long and exciting journey. Such a journey takes time.

In summary, if you haven't seen this film, buy it right away. Don't
rent it because you will not want to part with it once you've seen it.

Then curl up with it on a cold, rainy Sunday afternoon when you are in
no hurry to do anything.

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382 out of 457 people found the following review useful:

The good, the better, the best.

The beginning of the film is so memorable, with the young, rough good-looks
of Eastwood being labeled "The Good", the absolutely evil look of Lee Van
Cleef being labeled "The Bad", and a dirty, unkempt, desperado Eli Wallach
with booze and food flying being labeled "The Ugly". The ending fight scene
with its 3-way showdown is one of the most memorable pieces of film I have
ever watched.

Leone did a great job with the camera direction in this movie and the acting
is impressive. Eastwood, Van Cleef, and Wallach are absolutely
fantastic.

The only thing that might scare some viewers off is the length of the film.
It is long, but you just don't seem to notice it when you are watching the
film - you are just too damn busy watching the best classic western of all
time.

Do yourself a favor and rent this movie if you haven't seen it. If there
was ever a perfect western, this is it.

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421 out of 536 people found the following review useful:

The world is not black and white

Ok- first, as mentioned in another review, the geographic/historical
errors
in this film are GLARING. You've got men carrying revolvers that look like
old style cap-and-ball pistols, but they're loading them with metallic
cartridges- historically about five years early. Eastwood carries a rifle
that hasn't been invented yet, Tuco assembles a "superpistol" out of a
Colt,
a Remington, and a Smith and Wesson- impossible. And there was nothing of
merit taking place between the North and South during the Civil War in the
Southwest.
Now, that aside, I must say that this is the Greatest western ever. I
first
saw this film when I was about ten. I'd never sat through an entire
Western
befor, even though my Dad watched them constantly. Since then, I've been
through film school, watched hundreds of Westerns, learned to appreciate
them- but NOTHING matches up to this. The Searchers, Stagecoach, Gunfight
at
the O.K. Corral, The Gunfighter, High Noon, Shane- all great films, but
saddled with the standard American Western morality- the good guy never
takes liberties with the eastern schoolmarm, the bad guy wears a black
hat,
etc. Coming from Italy, TG,TB &TU isn't bound by these conventions.
Blondie's the "good guy"- but he's also a bounty hunter. He makes a living
in a highly immoral way, but is obviously the "good"- not because we're
told, but from small acts- giving the dying soldier a cigar, making sure
the
Captain knows to hold on till he hears the bridge blow, the genuine regret
he feel for having to let Shorty die. And while Angel Eyes may be the Bad,
we at least know he has prinicpals- when he's hired for a job, he always
sees the job through. And Tuco may be more immoral than the other two, but
he's so savvy and his role so humorous that one can't bring oneself to
look
upon him disfavorably.
In other words, historical inaccuracies aside, TG, TB, & TU maybe one of
the
most accurate portrayals of the West ever put on film- there are no
clear-cut lines of conduct, no black and white, or even grey, but just a
swirled palette of various facets of the human condition.

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348 out of 398 people found the following review useful:

the greatest of the great!

I wasn't sure if I was going to comment on this film because everything
has already been said by the hundreds of other people who have posted
their thoughts, but I decided that I should really put my two cents in
since this is my favorite movie.

This film, in my opinion, is not only the greatest spaghetti western of
all time. It is the greatest movie of all time. Period. Regardless of
genre. I could probably watch it every day, and be perfectly happy
doing so.

The music is perfection. The way the music drives this movie is
absolutely amazing. The musical genius of Morricone and the incredible
direction of Sergio Leone is a combination that will probably never be
equaled. The theme song will forever be etched in your brain. In fact,
it probably already is, even if you haven't seen the movie! The scene
where Tuco runs through the graveyard with the song "Ecstacy of Gold"
is pure poetry. And the showdown at the end with that great music- just
incredible.

The story is riveting. There is not a single dull moment. The movie is
long, but Leone's direction is so good that you will love the fact that
you can enjoy this movie for three hours.

Lee Van Cleef is my favorite spaghetti western actor, and he is
incredible as "Angel Eyes." It is the part he was born to play. Eli
Wallach is perfect as Tuco. He really shines in this movie. Some people
say he steals the show, and I can see why they think so. Eastwood is
excellent as "Blondie," although I don't think Eastwood has as strong
of a presence as Van Cleef (I know many will disagree, and that's OK
because all three actors are superb in this film so why split hairs?).

This movie is hypnotic. It's operatic. It's sad. It's funny. It's
gritty. It's violent. It's art. It's action. It's pure entertainment.
The film is just so incredible on so many different levels that
EVERYONE should see it, regardless of what kinds of movies they are
into. And it's so cool that the greatest flick ever just happens to be
a spaghetti western. If you haven't seen this movie, stop what you are
doing, and go get it now!!

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287 out of 373 people found the following review useful:

the best western, ever

often overlooked or belittled by so-called "film critics", GBU is a
monumental influential masterpiece. everything works: music, photography,
acting, dialogue, directing, etc.
the cinematography and music stand out as legendary film history. who can
forget the Morricone "whistles". or the harsh landscape united with a sweaty
dirty super close-up of an unknown Italian actor. there's just too much to
say about this landmark movie. what a combo: THE "spaghetti western",
directed by an Italian, starring american leads, shot in Spain, and taking
place in the barren American west. wow.remember, there's two kinds of people
in this world, my friend, those who appreciate a masterpiece like GBU, and
those who don't know much 'bout great movies!!!!!!!!

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231 out of 280 people found the following review useful:

The King of Cool

On a partial first viewing, I didn't like "The Good, the Bad and the
Ugly." I thought it was a slow, tedious story about a bunch of
unpleasant jerk characters involved in a bog-standard conflict over
money. It all seemed very macho and self-consciously cool, and it had
obviously inspired all the overrated macho directors I don't like in my
own generation - Tarantino, for example, and Robert Rodriguez. In
short, I was unimpressed.

Years later, I gave the film a second shot, watching it all the way
through this time. I loved it. What had changed?

For one thing, I took more notice of the technical side of the film. I
paid attention to Leone's famous use of close-ups, his selection of
memorable character actors, and his wonderful scene-setting. I admired
the detailed sets and the sweeping landscapes, the props and the
costumes and all those weird, wonderful faces that Leone clearly loved
to photograph.

I also got hooked by some of the quieter moments that I had skipped
over in my first viewing. One of the most effective scenes involves Eli
Wallach's character, Tuco, quarreling with his brother when they meet
after they've been apart for years. Their argument is great,
emotionally charged stuff, made all the more effective by the
suggestion that they really do love and care about each other. It's the
kind of sensitive, human scene you never get to see in a Tarantino or
Rodriguez movie.

Before I get too fuzzy-wuzzy, I should also like to point out that, on
my second viewing, I LOVED all the action, too. Every gunfight is
great, in its own way, and they're all a bit different. The greatest of
them all is, of course, the final confrontation between the trio, which
is accompanied by some of the most rousing music I've ever heard in a
film. And hey, there's even a huge Civil War battle to provide a change
of pace from all the small-scale action.

Ultimately, "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" is probably just a
potboiler of a film, without too much to say about, for example, the
human condition. But what a potboiler! It doesn't have to try to be
cool - it simply IS cool. In fact, it probably defined heroic coolness
for an entire generation. Eli Wallach's performance, Leone's direction
and Morricone's music alone are enough to elevate it to classic status
- and the fact that everything else in the movie is great, too, helps
elevate it to the level of perhaps the greatest action film ever made.

And to think, I missed all that the first time through...

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231 out of 281 people found the following review useful:

One of the Best of all Time

This film probably had the largest impact on my life. It set the tone for
everything I then got interested in. American Civil War. Film Music. Clint
Eastwood. Real Westerns. This is the best of the Dollars Trilogy and by far
one of the best Westerns of all time. It has drama, comedy, cracking
dialogue, some of the most brutal battle scenes - especially around the
bridge - that I'd seen up to then, music to die for and set pieces that just
ooze atmosphere and tension. I have never forgotten the end shoot-out. This
was unique; 3 people?! You can't do that. But Leone did, and he did it
brilliantly - all cameras and music. I have now seen this film too many
times to count but I'll be back for another blast of buono, brutto, cattivo,
someday. My son owes his name to this film. Yep, that there is Clinton.

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213 out of 289 people found the following review useful:

Classic

Rather than a review of a 30 year old movie,
here is my recollection of a 30 year old movie.
When was the first time you saw this movie?
I remember the first time I saw this movie.
Back in the '70s, one night there was 2 things
on TV to choose from, this movie or a baseball
game. How do I remember a baseball game, it was the
night Hank Aaron was going after Babe Ruth's
homerun record. Baseball or a movie. Tuned into the
the baseball game, flipped to the movie -a western, cool.
'Uh, what is this no one is talking it makes no sense'. After what seemed
like an eternity somebody finally spoke, Lee van Cleef. The rest is Movie
History. Since then I have seen this movie well over 25
times.
Numerous lines that have been etched into my memory.
Forget whatever minor flaws this movie has. Put yourself
in the movie. Sergio Leon, John Ford these are the people
that
defined "The Western". On a scale of 1-10, The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
is nothing less than a 10. Plop the tape into the VCR, sit back and
experience a classic.

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160 out of 192 people found the following review useful:

Sergio Leone's penultimate Italian-western; a film that gets better with each passing year...

...and though those last several words could also be attributed to
Leone's "Once Upon a Time" films (West and America) as well as the
other pieces in his trilogy of films with Clint Eastwood- Fistful of
Dollars and For a Few More Dollars- arguably this is the most ambitious
and spellbinding one of the bunch, and one that has inspired (i.e.
Quentin Tarantino, Sam Raimi, Robert Rodriguez) and will most likely
continue to inspire filmmakers and fans into the 21st century. There's
something in The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly that's nearly (or perhaps
is) mythical in it's craft, certain scenes come off as being more than
relevant and exquisite for that scene/sequence- it transcends into
aspects of humanity.

For example, in the first part of the film (this is after the
extraordinary introductions to Tuco, played by Eli Wallach, Sentenza or
'Angel Eyes', played by Lee Van Cleef, and as Blondie by a 35/36 year
old Clint), Joe gets Tuco out of a hanging, which is something of a
regular practice for them, but Joe decides to leave his 'buddy' out in
the desert to walk the rest of the way back into town. A little later,
the situation gets reversed, as Tuco has a horse and water and Joe
doesn't, and they both go to cross the desert. Leone decides to not
follow Tuco coming back to town as much as he follows in earnest Tuco
and Joe going across that desert, as Joe starts to burn and dry up,
going towards a story that will soon unfold. There is something to
these scenes that I can barely describe, that they're executed in the
mind-set of a Western, but in the abstract Leone lets the audience know
this is a story that is bold and bigger than life.

What makes much of the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly such a huge success
is the trust Leone had in his own style he spun into his own after the
first two westerns, his trust in his collaborators, and in his leading
players as well. I, for one, had to mistakenly figure out that it is
near depressing to watch this film on a regular VCR tape due to the pan
& scan process. There is such a clear, distinct visual scope that Leone
and camera director Tonino Delli Colli achieve that it's practically a
must to get the DVD (preferably the extended version, which was Leone's
original cut more or less). The editing, too, is unique in many
sequences (the climax is the most noted and memorable). The score, with
usual collaborator Ennio Morricone, is one of the landmark movie
scores, and themes, of not just in the western genre but in all movie
history.

And the three main players who take on the screen have their own chops
to show off: Eastwood, technically, was playing a Joe that took place
before Fistful of Dollars, yet by this film had it down to a T (it's
still my favorite performance from him, despite having few words and
reactions); Cleef's cold, cunning Angel Eyes steals the scenes he's in;
ditto for Wallach, who gets under the skin of his co-patriots as much
as he sometimes does under the viewer's. If anyone really stays in the
mind, at least for me, it's Wallach - especially as he gets the most
'character', and one of the very best scenes is between Tuco and his
religious brother. Without that scene, the movie actually wouldn't work
quite as well, surprisingly enough.

Overall, The Good, the Bad and Ugly, is an entirely satisfying western,
at least one of my five favorites ever made, and it's an endearing
bravo to all who were involved.